cavalcade

[ kav-uhl-keyd, kav-uhl-keyd ]

noun

1. a procession of persons riding on horses, in horsedrawn carriages, in cars, etc.
2. any procession.

   Synonyms: retinue, parade

3. any noteworthy series, as of events or activities.

cavalcade

/ ˌkævəlˈkeɪd /

noun

1. a procession of people on horseback, in cars, etc
2. any procession

   a cavalcade of guests

Word History and Origins

Origin of cavalcade¹

1585–95; < Middle French < early Italian cavalcata horseback raid, equivalent to cavalc ( are ) to ride on horseback (< Late Latin caballicāre, equivalent to caball ( us ) horse ( cavalier ) + -icā- v. suffix + -re infinitive ending) + -ata -ade ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of cavalcade¹

C16: from French, from Italian cavalcata, from cavalcare to ride on horseback, from Late Latin caballicāre, from caballus horse

Example Sentences

Rather than an endless cavalcade of unknown faces and places, these projected slides are blank pictures, allowing the audience to imagine people and locations of their own conjuring.

From Washington Blade

The Jazz, of course, have their own advantages in their cavalcade of 3-point shooters, Gobert’s paint protection and the respective abilities of Mitchell and Conley to break defenses down from the outside-in.

From FiveThirtyEight

Documentary series have thrived in the streaming age, with a seemingly endless cavalcade of stories about true crime or bizarre cults.

From Vox

The cavalcade of place names and unit designations might be a challenge for the nonspecialist reader.

From Washington Post

The mountain’s only local rival in terms of rarity and showstopping beauty is the northern lights, the astronomical occurrence that causes a cavalcade of colors to pirouette across the night sky near Earth's polar regions.

From Washington Post

National stereotypes shape the humor among the gathering cavalcade of cyclists and the many thousands of followers.

From The Daily Beast

Arm people with a cloak of anonymity and a shield of non-accountability, and watch the cavalcade of crazy charge.

From The Daily Beast

Yet surprisingly, the woman who originated this annual cavalcade now dismisses the spectacle she seemingly created.

From The Daily Beast

There is certainly no room in Twitter's 140 characters for the cavalcade of caveats that trail the so-called “agreement.”

From The Daily Beast

First was the cavalcade of denials and baffling cover-ups she fired off to defend herself.

From The Daily Beast

There could be no doubting the errand that brought a cavalcade thus furiously from the direction of Lucknow.

From Project Gutenberg

We spent a very happy day at the hospitable country house of Mr. Wardrope, and our cavalcade to the town at night was delightful.

From Project Gutenberg

The long cavalcade is seen disappearing down the hill, while away in the distance is Portsmouth Harbour with its crowded shipping.

From Project Gutenberg

The shrill notes of the trumpets sounded louder and louder, and a brilliant cavalcade appeared at the end of the mall.

From Project Gutenberg

About three hundred men-at-arms constituted the cavalcade of the Duke of Aquitaine.

From Project Gutenberg